Road deaths in France at lowest since 1945

The number of road deaths in France last year fell by 11% to 3,250, 403 fewer than in 2012. Revealing the figures, Minister of the Interior Manuel Valls said they were the lowest number since the first national road death statistics were recorded in 1948. Deaths of 18-24 year olds on French roads during 2013 were down 10% year-on-year, with road deaths of car occupants down 14%. Deaths of cyclists on French roads were down 8%, pedestrian road deaths fell by 7% and 3% fewer motorcyclists were killed on the

For the third consecutive year, the number of deer-vehicle collisions in the US has dropped. And the downturn is accelerating. The percentage decline over the last year is nearly three times as large as during the previous two years combined. Using its claims data, leading US auto insurer State Farm, estimates 1.09 million collisions between deer and vehicles occurred in the US between 1 July, 2010 and 30 June, 2011.

The latest official data shows a continuing improvement in road safety statistics in both France and the UK. However the data also reveals worrying trends in accidents concerning vulnerable road users.

The Australian state of New South Wales last year saw its lowest number of pedestrian road deaths since annual records began in 1928. There were 42 pedestrian fatalities in the state during 2013 - down 24% compared to 2012, according to NSW Minister for Roads, Duncan Gay. There was also a 40% year-on-year fall in passenger deaths to 49, but motorcycle fatalities rose from 61 in 2012 to 71 in 2013. Cyclist fatalities also doubled in 2013 to 14. Overall, there were 339 road deaths in NSW in 2013 - down